Dipluridae
Encyclopedia
Funnel-web tarantulas are a group of spider
s in the infraorder Mygalomorphae
, that have two pairs of booklungs, and chelicerae
(fangs) that move up and down in a stabbing motion. A number of genera
, including the Sydney funnel-web spider
(Atrax robustus), used to be classified in this family but have now been moved to Hexathelidae
.
. Their carapace
is characterized by the head region not being higher than the thoracic region
. Their posterior median spinnerets (silk-extruding organs) are much shorter than their posterior lateral spinnerets, which have three segments, and are elongated (almost as long as their opisthosoma
). Most of the species are medium to small-sized spiders, with some, such as the endangered
Microhexura montivaga, as small as 3 mm, while others may measure about 15 mm. The cave species Masteria caeca is eyeless.
. Most are found in Central and South America
, and many occur in the Australia
n region. Indothele is found in India
and Sri Lanka
. Ischnothele is a neotropical genus, but one species occurs only in India. Several genera are found in Africa
, with Thelechoris also occurring in Madagascar
. Leptothele and Phyxioschema suthepium are endemic to Thailand, with the other Phyxioschema species found in Central Asia
. Masteria is widely distributed, with species found in places such as Central America
, Fiji
, the Philippines
, Queensland
and New Guinea
.
The common genus in the United States
is Euagrus, which builds its webs under stones in wet canyons. It is abundant in such areas as the Chiricahua Mountains
of Arizona
.
Diplurids can be very common in banks and road cuts, such as in Trinidad
.
The highly venomous
genus Atrax used to be placed in this family, but is now in the Hexathelidae
.
71: 174-180. PDF (1986): Chilehexops, a new funnelweb mygalomorph spider genus from Chile (Araneae, Dipluridae). Am. Mus. Novit. 2860: 1-10. PDF (1994): Linothele cavicola, a new Diplurinae spider (Araneae, Dipluridae) from the caves in Ecuador. J. Arachnol. 22: 70-72. PDF
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
s in the infraorder Mygalomorphae
Mygalomorphae
The Mygalomorphae, , are an infraorder of spiders. The latter name comes from the orientation of the fangs which point straight down and do not cross each other .-Description:...
, that have two pairs of booklungs, and chelicerae
Chelicerae
The chelicerae are mouthparts of the Chelicerata, an arthropod subphylum that includes arachnids, Merostomata , and Pycnogonida . Chelicerae are pointed appendages which are used to grasp food, and are found in place of the chewing mandibles most other arthropods have...
(fangs) that move up and down in a stabbing motion. A number of genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
, including the Sydney funnel-web spider
Sydney funnel-web spider
The Sydney funnel-web spider, Atrax robustus, is an Australian funnel-web spider usually found within a radius of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.-Description:...
(Atrax robustus), used to be classified in this family but have now been moved to Hexathelidae
Hexathelidae
The spider family Hexathelidae, the only family in the super-family Hexatheloidea, is one of two families of spiders known as funnel-webs...
.
Description
Dipluridae lack a rastellum (stout conical spines) on their cheliceraeChelicerae
The chelicerae are mouthparts of the Chelicerata, an arthropod subphylum that includes arachnids, Merostomata , and Pycnogonida . Chelicerae are pointed appendages which are used to grasp food, and are found in place of the chewing mandibles most other arthropods have...
. Their carapace
Carapace
A carapace is a dorsal section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tortoises, the underside is called the plastron.-Crustaceans:In crustaceans, the...
is characterized by the head region not being higher than the thoracic region
Thorax
The thorax is a division of an animal's body that lies between the head and the abdomen.-In tetrapods:...
. Their posterior median spinnerets (silk-extruding organs) are much shorter than their posterior lateral spinnerets, which have three segments, and are elongated (almost as long as their opisthosoma
Opisthosoma
The opisthosoma is the posterior part of the body in some arthropods, behind the prosoma . It is a distinctive feature of the subphylum Chelicerata...
). Most of the species are medium to small-sized spiders, with some, such as the endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
Microhexura montivaga, as small as 3 mm, while others may measure about 15 mm. The cave species Masteria caeca is eyeless.
Biology
Members of this family often build rather messy funnel-webs. Some build silk-lined burrows instead of webs (Diplura, Trechona, some Linothele sp.). They generally build their retreats in crevices in earthen banks, the bark of trees, under logs or in leaf litter.Distribution
Dipluridae occur almost worldwide in the tropicsTropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
. Most are found in Central and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, and many occur in the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n region. Indothele is found in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Ischnothele is a neotropical genus, but one species occurs only in India. Several genera are found in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, with Thelechoris also occurring in Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. Leptothele and Phyxioschema suthepium are endemic to Thailand, with the other Phyxioschema species found in Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
. Masteria is widely distributed, with species found in places such as Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
.
The common genus in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
is Euagrus, which builds its webs under stones in wet canyons. It is abundant in such areas as the Chiricahua Mountains
Chiricahua Mountains
The Chiricahua Mountains are a mountain range in southeastern Arizona which are part of the Basin and Range province of the southwest, and part of the Coronado National Forest...
of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
.
Diplurids can be very common in banks and road cuts, such as in Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
.
Human interaction
There is no proper proof on the toxicity of their venom, but it is probably wise to avoid direct contact with the larger members (Diplura sp., Harmonicon sp., Linothele sp., and Trechona sp.).The highly venomous
Spider bite
A spider bite is an injury resulting from the bites of spiders or other closely related arachnids.Spiders are active hunters and rely heavily on their bites to paralyze and kill their prey before consuming it. They also bite in self defense...
genus Atrax used to be placed in this family, but is now in the Hexathelidae
Hexathelidae
The spider family Hexathelidae, the only family in the super-family Hexatheloidea, is one of two families of spiders known as funnel-webs...
.
Genera
The grouping into subfamilies follows Raven, R. J. (1985a), and Coyle, F. A. (1984, 1986, 1988, 1995):- Diplurinae Simon, 1889
- † Clostes Menge, 1869 — fossil, EoceneEoceneThe Eocene Epoch, lasting from about 56 to 34 million years ago , is a major division of the geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Eocene spans the time from the end of the Palaeocene Epoch to the beginning of the Oligocene Epoch. The start of the...
Baltic amberBaltic amberThe Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, called Baltic amber or succinite, with about 80% of the world's known amber found there. It dates from 44 million years ago...
-
-
- † Clostes priscus (Menge, 1869)
- † Cretadiplura Selden, 2005 — fossil, Early CretaceousEarly CretaceousThe Early Cretaceous or the Lower Cretaceous , is the earlier or lower of the two major divisions of the Cretaceous...
- † Cretadiplura Selden, 2005 — fossil, Early Cretaceous
- † Cretadiplura ceara Selden, 2005
- † Dinodiplura Selden, 2005 — fossil, Lower Cretaceous
- † Dinodiplura ambulacra Selden, 2005
- Diplura C. L. KochCarl Ludwig KochCarl Ludwig Koch was a German entomologist and arachnologist. He was responsible for classifying a great number of spiders, including the Brazilian whiteknee tarantula and Common house spider. He was born in Kusel, Germany and died in Nuremberg, Germany.Carl Ludwig Koch was an inspector of water...
, 1850 — South America, Cuba - Harmonicon F. O. P-CambridgeFrederick Octavius Pickard-CambridgeFrederick Octavius Pickard-Cambridge was an English arachnologist. He is often confused with his uncle, Octavius Pickard-Cambridge , who was also an arachnologist and from whom F. O. Pickard-Cambridge picked up his enthusiasm for the study of spiders.-Life:F. O. Pickard-Cambridge was born in...
, 1896 — French Guiana, Brazil - Linothele KarschFriedrich KarschFerdinand Karsch or Karsch-Haack was a German arachnologist, entomologist and anthropologist....
, 1879 — South America - Trechona C. L. Koch, 1850 — South America
- Diplura C. L. Koch
- † Clostes priscus (Menge, 1869)
-
- Euagrinae Raven, 1979
- Allothele Tucker, 1920 — Africa
- Australothele Raven, 1984 — Australia
- CaledotheleCaledotheleCaledothele is a spider genus in the funnel-web tarantulas super-family Dipluroidea found in Australia.-Species:* Caledothele annulatus — New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands* Caledothele aoupinie Raven, 1991 — New Caledonia...
Raven, 1991 — Australia - Carrai Raven, 1984 — New South Wales
- CethegusCethegus (spider)Cethegus is a genus of spiders in the funnel-web tarantulas family Dipluridae found in Australia.-Species:* Cethegus barraba Raven, 1984 — New South Wales* Cethegus broomi — New South Wales...
Thorell, 1881 — Australia - Euagrus AussererAnton AussererAnton Ausserer was an Austrian naturalist specialising in spiders.- Selected publications :...
, 1875 — Southern USA to Costa Rica, South Africa, Taiwan - MicrohexuraMicrohexuraMicrohexura is a tiny spider genus from the USA with only two species. M. montivaga is considered endangered. M. idahoana is widespread in old growth from Mount Rainier southward.-Species:* Microhexura idahoana Chamberlin & Ivie, 1945...
Crosby & Bishop, 1925 — USA - Namirea Raven, 1984 — Australia
- Phyxioschema Simon, 1889 — Central Asia
- Stenygrocercus Simon, 1892 — New Caledonia
- Ischnothelinae F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897
- Andethele Coyle, 1995 — Peru
- Indothele Coyle, 1995 — India
- Ischnothele Ausserer, 1875 — Mexico to Argentina, Caribic, India
- Lathrothele Benoit, 1965 — Africa
- Thelechoris Karsch, 1881 — Africa, Madagascar
- Masteriinae Simon, 1889
- Chilehexops Coyle, 1986 — Chile, Argentina
- MasteriaMasteriaMasteria is a genus of mygalomorph spiders that occurs in the tropics of Central to South America, Asia and Micronesia, with one species found in Australia. It was formerly known as genus Accola....
L. Koch, 1873 — Caribic, Central and South America, Oceania, Australia - Striamea Raven, 1981 — Colombia
- incertae sedisIncertae sedis, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...
- Leptothele Raven & Schwendinger, 1995 — Thailand
- Troglodiplura Main, 1969 — Australia
Further reading
(1964): Two new species of the genus Accola (Araneae, Dipluridae). PsychePsyche (entomological journal)
Psyche is a scientific journal of entomology which was established in 1874 by the Cambridge Entomological Club as a "journal for the publication of biological contributions upon Arthropoda from any competent person"....
71: 174-180. PDF (1986): Chilehexops, a new funnelweb mygalomorph spider genus from Chile (Araneae, Dipluridae). Am. Mus. Novit. 2860: 1-10. PDF (1994): Linothele cavicola, a new Diplurinae spider (Araneae, Dipluridae) from the caves in Ecuador. J. Arachnol. 22: 70-72. PDF
- Selden, P.A., da Costa Casado, F. & Vianna Mesquita, M. (2005): Mygalomorph spiders (Araneae: Dipluridae) from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Lagerstätte, Araripe Basin, North-east Brazil. Palaeontology 49(4): 817-826.
External links
(2008): The world spider catalog, version 8.5. American Museum of Natural History.- Taxonomy, housing and captive breeding of Dipluridae sp. including key to all genera